In what can only be described as “the worst pitch we’ve ever seen”, the lads arrived at Eastwood & Kimberley hoping to get their season off to a flying start. The pitch had less grass than the Sahara desert, and the byline was less than half a metre from some parked cars. The lads knew they were in for a tough match.

The message was clear, play the way we’d been playing all pre-season. But the lads seemed a bit pessimistic due to the surface of the pitch. Early on in the match, the ball was being played long by both teams back-and-forth. It was not easy on the eye whatsoever.

There weren’t too many chances for either side, until the half-hour mark, where Eastwood whipped in a corner from the left which nestled into the far side-netting. Questions were raised about Burkey being impeded in goal, but protests fell on deaf ears. 1-0 Eastwood.

The final 10 minutes of the first half the lads started to get a foot on the ball and played some nice stuff. You could tell that something needed to change. A few subs at HT with Moore coming on for Tovell and Chambers slotting in a full-back allowed Mountain to move into the midfield alongside Sahota.

The lads came out for the second half like a new team. The ball was played a lot more on the deck and they really started to get a foothold in the game. There was a slight blip when the ref deemed Ward to have pushed the Eastwood forward in the back, awarding them an extremely dubious penalty. One that even their own bench couldn’t believe they got! The player stepped up and smashed the ball wide of the left-hand post.

A few more subs saw Muir, Heard and Will Tovell enter the field. Instantly Muir had an impact, shielding the ball from the Eastwood centre-half and drawing a foul in the box. Up stepped Moore to finish low in the bottom right-hand corner to draw the scores level.

Dynamos really started to turn the screw now. Pressing really well as a team and pinning Eastwood back into their own half. Moment later Sahota played a lovely ball with the outside of his right foot in between the Eastwood full-back and centre-half for Moore to run onto and fire home at the near post. 2-1 and the game had turned on its head.

Throughout the game there had been some questionable decisions from the referee to say the least. This came to a head when the Eastwood forward smacked a ball against Walsh’s hand, down by his side, from less then a yard away. Unbelievably another penalty to Eastwood. This time the striker slotted home with 10 left to play. 2-2.

The lads didn’t give up. Some nice play down the right saw a stone-wall penalty for handball waved away. It felt like the game had gotten away from the referee at this point, which was a real shame. Not long after, with less than 5 minutes to play, a strike from the edge of the box towards goal hit the Eastwood defenders arm and the ref pointed to the spot for the fourth time in the game! Moore again, stepped up and slotted in the same spot he put his previous penalty.

3-2 to the Dynamos and jubilation at the final whistle. The lads dug deep, listened to instructions and carried them out to a tee. A real team effort from everyone and a great showing from the young lads.

A few weeks off now until we face Wirksworth Ivanhoe Reserves away at the end of the month.